After Donald Trump was elected president, musician Carolyn Walker (Woman Songwriter Collective, Violet Maeve) of Amherst felt that she had to do something to “fight the awfulness that is happening.” So, she turned to Facebook this past January and put up a post asking if any of her fellow local musicians would be interested in making a compilation album that would be a form of protest, and would also serve to raise money for organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union.

Walker never expected that close to 40 musicians from Franklin and Hampshire counties would respond.

“Most of my Facebook posts are inconsequential,” said Walker in an email exchange about the response she received. “But I was heartened by such strong support and interest.”

Christa Joy, one of Walker’s partners in the Woman Songwriter Collective, helped move the project along by establishing a Facebook page called the Mass Musicians Resistance Project, which served to get more musicians involved and stay connected. The group’s goal is to build community and resistance through acts of music. “We hope to rely on music as an ally, a tool, hammer, bell, and song,” they wrote in their mission statement.

Christa Joy, Lisa Marie Ellingsen, Wishbone Zoe, the Nields, Chris Pureka, Jim Armenti, Jim Henry, Jenny Goodspeed, Heather Maloney, Peter Nelson, Matt Stamell, Ray Mason, the Warblers, Carrie Ferguson and Alastair Moock are just some of the musicians who each donated a song to the compilation project called “Songs for Mass Resistance.” The songs explore topics like civil rights and equality, the environment, women’s health, immigration and LGBTQ issues.

Mark Allen Miller of Sonelab Studios in Easthampton volunteered to master the project, while Scott Cadwallader and Garret Sawyer of Northfire Recording studio in Amherst offered some recording time so some people could record their songs.

The finished project is a three-volume set that will be available for purchase on Saturday, April 15, when the Mass Musicians Resistance Project hosts a show at the First Churches of Northampton from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This event will bring together musicians and local activist who are standing together to support the civil liberties and basic rights of all human beings. It’s also a celebration of the release of this music, and performing will be five acts that contributed to the project: Jim Armenti, Carrie Ferguson, The Nields, Local Chorus and Pamela Means. Humorist Seth Lepore will serve as the MC for the show and radio host/ACLU lawyer Bill Newman will be a guest speaker.

All of the musicians and the individuals organizing and working at this event are donating their time.

“The idea was to put together some benefit shows to bring people together and to use them as a vehicle to sell download cards of the compilation,” said Walker. “Each download card will have 12 to 13 songs on them. The music will also be released on Bandcamp on April 15.”

Walker said that this is the first event the group is doing, and their hopes is that it is not the last.

“We hope to add to the Songs for Mass Resistance project after the initial release, and hope to do a big release show in the summer with as many musicians as possible who submitted music to the project.”

Tickets are $20 and available at: www.brownpapertickets.com. The First Churches of Northampton is at 129 Main St.

Green Fest 2017 at Arts Block

Get your calendars out and mark down the date, April 20, because that’s when The Enthusiast (the vapor/smoke business at 10 Miles St. in Greenfield) is celebrating its second year in business by presenting a free concert at the Arts Block in Greenfield.

The lineup for this show is an excellent one that will especially appeal to those of you who love to dance.

One of the headliners of the Green Fest is the Funky Dawgz Brass Band out of Connecticut, whose members met while playing with the basketball pep band and marching band at the University of Connecticut.

This group plays a mix of traditional New Orleans R&B, while also putting a brass spin on original tunes, as well as some of your favorite contemporary hits. The band’s reputation as a great live band continues to grow, and they have already shared the stage with such acts as Trombone Shorty, Dispatch and Dumpstaphunk. It’s a guaranteed good time when the Funky Dawgz Brass Band is in the house, and also coming from outside the area is White Cliffs, a musician from New York City who specializes in electronic music. He is a self-proclaimed “music chef who cooks saucy jams for your face.” There’s also the Medicinal Purpose, a soulful rock band who frequently plays this area but whose members are all originally from New Jersey.

In addition, there is an excellent roster of local talent at this show. Mammal Dap is a psych-fusion band from Northampton that has been touring throughout the United States in support of their new album, “Deep Field.” Also from Northampton, it’s the psychedelic sounds of The Outer Stylie Band and Diamondstones, a rock band that likes to take off into some jam- heavy territory incorporating jazz, folk, funk, blues and psychedelia in to their mix. Add to the lineup the all-female hip-hop band, Solo Sexx, which come out of the University of Massachusetts, and the acoustic folk trio, Pinedrop, from Brattleboro, Vt., and you have quite the diverse lineup. This promises to be an incredible evening of music — and, it’s all free!

Dick Evans, chairman of the YES on 4 campaign, will be on hand as a guest speaker.

Doors open at 4 p.m. and music begins at 5. This is an all-ages show and there is no cover charge. The Arts Block is at 289 Main St. in Greenfield.

Khalif Neville at
Warwick Town Hall

One night last winter, I strolled into Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton, not sure what the musical lineup was for that particular night. Much to my delight, I encountered an amazing trio, highlighted by a talented keyboardist. I’m not a huge jazz fan, but this player totally captured my attention with the skill and grace that he displayed. It turned out that I was listening to Khalif Neville — yes, of the famous New Orleans Neville family. Khalif is the son of sax player Charles Neville, and he has been playing music with his father since he was a small boy. He occasionally plays shows with his dad, but he also has his own trio in addition to playing solo gigs. Neville and his trio will close out Wooden Fender’s (an offshoot of the Warwick Arts Council) winter music series — is a monthly concert series held at the Town Hall in Warwick. This final show of the season will be held on Saturday, April 15, at 7 p.m.

There is a lasagna meal before the show at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for 12-year-olds and younger. The music begins at 7 p.m. and there is a $5 donation. The Warwick Town Hall is on the Warwick Common on Route 68.

You can also see Khalif Neville at The Arts Block in Greenfield on April 19. Next month Neville will be at Mocha Maya’s, 47 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls on May 20.

Sheryl Hunter is a music writer who lives in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national magazines. You can contact her at soundslocal@yahoo.com